THE town’s MP David Tredinnick says he was carrying out healthcare research when The Hinckley Times confronted him about a £700 claim for astrology software.

THE town’s MP David Tredinnick says he was carrying out healthcare research when The Hinckley Times confronted him about a £700 claim for astrology software.

Mr Tredinnick, who was first elected to represent the town 22 years ago, became the latest MP to be caught up in The Daily Telegraph’s coverage of the expenses scandal on Saturday.

They said he attempted to claim £125 for the cost of a course on “intimate relationships” he attended in 2006.

And now The Hinckley Times can reveal that Mr Tredinnick claimed more than £700 for computer software and consultancy to investigate whether astrology can be linked to alternative medicine.

The products were purchased from a firm called Crucial Astro Tools, based in Surrey.

Mr Tredinnick notified the fees office before making the claims and they were approved.

Just over a month ago the MP told The Hinckley Times: “I have been through my receipts and I cannot see anything I would be unhappy to see on the front page of my local paper.”

Speaking about his claim for astrology software and consultancy earlier this week he said: “I wanted to look at an aspect of healthcare, particularly Indian medicine and also the work of a herbalist called Culpepper who linked healthcare to the movements of the planets.

“I contacted a professional and got some advice. I had already cleared it with the fees office.

“There are aspects of this such as plant cycles, the tides, that are linked to the moon.

“That’s a fact of life, and there is a school of thought that says the moon affects other things as well.

“It’s easy to make fun of me over this but the fact is there is a link.

“This is what I’ve specialised in and I have done a lot of work in healthcare.

“Some of the things I have done were really on the cutting edge, and have led to some significant changes.”

The Liberal Democrats, who are targeting the constituency in the next general election have called on Mr Tredinnick to resign.

Cllr Stuart Bray, who is chairman of the Bosworth group and deputy leader of the borough council said, “For the second time Mr Tredinnick has brought shame on himself and shame on his constituents.

“It is now time he stood down and allowed local people to elect an MP we can be proud of.”